Day of Sucwentwécw

Day of Sucwentwécw 2021

The First People’s Principles of Learning are incorporated into the content of the BC Curriculum, as are the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action which call us to “integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms.”

The Day of Sucwentwécw (Acknowledging One Another) is an annual initiative held on April 7 each year, to recognize and celebrate the Secwépemc People (Secwepemcúl’ecw) and other Aboriginal people residing within the Secwépemc Territory.

The theme for 2021 is “Learning together: In Memory, History, and Story, using Aboriginal Perspectives.” This is an opportunity for all schools to continue to embed the First People’s Principles of Learning, and to address the Calls to Action as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The day will be marked this year as a virtual event due to the pandemic, with a focus on the concept of gathering and presentations of learning in all district schools. There are a number of resources provided to teachers, including videos, some of which are posted below. 

Jackie Jules - Introducing the Day of Sucwentwécw

How to Say "Day of Sucwentwécw"

Bernice Jensen - Introduction to the Welcome Song

"The Welcome Song is our Secwépemc Song that is sung all over the Secwépemc Nation," said Bernice Jensen, Cultural Education Coordinator with the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society.  "It welcomes all of us; it welcomes the people, welcomes Mother Earth and welcomes our ancestors.  The beat of the drums are the heart beat of the nations coming together strong and powerful.  It’s part of our ceremony and helps us connect to the creator to offer prayers of healing and to give thanks to all.  All My Relations."

Day of Sucwentwécw - Welcome Song

"In addition to our students performing the Welcome Song, our students had an opportunity to dress up in beautiful regalia and moccasins," said Rae Bennett, Aboriginal Education Worker. "In the Secwépemc cultures, only certain pieces of regalia were displayed while dancing to the Welcome Song. All the girls wore yokes, long skirts, leggings, moccasins, and accessories. Their hair accessories had feathers and beads that matched their regalia. The boy dancers each wore vests and moccasins. The drummers and singers wore the Secwépemc colours of the medicine wheel - black, white, red, and yellow."

Weyt-k,

My name is Kiona Thompson. I am from the Shuswap Indian band; my mom’s name is Jackie Joseph and my dad is Jason Thompson. I have two brothers and I’m the middle child of three. I have been making art for 4 years now, but recently I have been sharing my art more. It's always so nerve wracking to send art into contests and find out you lost, but this is my first time winning.

My art was inspired by the teachings I have learned and the stories I have heard. I am lucky to grow up around my culture and my family. The prompt that I was given was culture, history and storytelling. When I think of storytelling, I think of coyote stories and other teachings. When I think of history I see a pit house and how we used to live back when. I think of how we used to live and how we were a community before the settlers and the residential schools. I wanted to bring the legends to life in my art by having some of the stories I learned when I was little. I have the dancing coyote to show the stories coming to life while the dad is telling the stories, but it is open for interpretation. I put so much thought into my art, and I am thankful that you picked my art to display.

I like to make more cultural art works. When I paint or draw I try to make a statement in my artwork and tell a story. I was also thinking about painting the artwork I drew for the Day of Sucwentwécw to hang up in my room/living room. Painting is my hobby and I see myself making more in the future but I can't see myself making a career out of it.

Thank you for choosing me.

Sincerely,

Kiona Thompson

Day of Sucwentwécw Celebrations